Gillingham 0 Shrewsbury 1
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by Luke
Cawdell
Gillingham were beaten by an injury-time penalty at Priestfield
on Saturday.
Nicky Wroe scored from the spot in the fourth minute of
stoppage-time to hand Shrewsbury the points.
For the Gills, they were made to pay for failing to convert from
the spot themselves, after Danny Kedwell had seen his first half
effort saved by keeper Ben Smith.
Kedwell (pictured) had netted twice from the spot in the Gills’
last home game but infront of the Rainham End he saw his low shot
saved by Smith midway through the half.
The opportunity from the spot came after Luke Rooney, in for
Danny Spiller, was felled by Shrews defender Jermaine
Grandison.
Rooney had looked sharp on the left flank for the Gills and had
earlier come close with a low shot that was drilled across the face
of Smith’s goal.
Shrewsbury, with decent attacking players in their line-up, came
close themselves in the opening half and striker Marvin Morgan
should have converted from close range.
He instead blasted over after Gills keeper Ross Flitney had
parried Shane Cansdell-Sherriff’s header into his path.
On the half hour Wroe curled an effort narrowly wide from
outside the area as the visitors remained dangerous – buoyed by
Smith’s penalty save.
Just before the break Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made a switch
as Jack Payne limped off for Dennis Oli. The Gills switched
formation, from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2, with Oli joining Kedwell in
attack.
In the opening minute of the second half Morgan had a shot
turned wide of the post by Flitney and from the subsequent corner
headed into the side netting.
Barry Fuller also needed to make a good tackle to deny Mark
Wright after the Shrewsbury man broke clear.
The visitors continued to press forward at the start of the
second half and Flitney had to make a great low save to tip Wroe’s
shot wide.
Rooney drilled a couple of low shots on target at the other end
but Smith dealt with them comfortably, as he did with
Lewis Montrose’s powerful effort.
An open second half saw chances at both ends and Barry Fuller
had to make a desperate block to deny Morgan after Terry Gornell
had played him in.
The game was decided from the spot when Flitney felled Sean
McAllister in the box. Wroe’s first attempt was converted but he
was made to retake it by referee Fred Graham due to encroachment.
He made no mistake with the second attempt to ruin Gills’ day.
Gills: Flitney, Fuller, Frampton, Lawrence, Jackman, J Payne
(Oli 43mins), Montrose (Martin 70mins), Lee, Weston (Whelpdale
59mins), Rooney, Kedwell. Subs not used: Richards, Gazzaniga.
Shrewsbury: Smith, Grandison, Jacobson, McAllister, Sharps,
Cansdell-Sherriff, Wright, Wroe, Morgan, Ainsworth, Gornell. Subs
not used: Neal, Leslie, Hazell, Richards, Goldson.
Attendance: 4,869
What do you make of the Gills defeat?
Have your say below.
Saturday, September 03 2011
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